How to Play Watermelon Man on Harmonica (Step-by-Step Lesson)
In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to play the Herbie Hancock classic Watermelon Man on harmonica. It’s got a funky, bluesy feel—and it’s a brilliant tune to learn if you want to get better at phrasing, timing, and bending. You’ll need a harmonica in the key of B-flat, and we’ll be playing in second position. I’ll walk you through each lick—step by step—and then we’ll put the whole thing together. By the end of the lesson, you’ll have the full 16-bar version under your belt.
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Understanding the Song Structure
You might have noticed it sounds almost like a 12 bar blues—but there’s a little twist.
Watermelon Man is actually a 16-bar form. The first 10 bars follow the 12 bar pattern—but then, instead of resolving, we go back to the 5 chord in bar 11, hit the 4 chord in bar 12, and then repeat that same 5–4 move again in bars 13 and 14. The final two bars resolve back to the 1 chord.
So—still very bluesy—but with just enough variation to keep it interesting.
Lick 1: Setting the Theme
Let’s kick things off with a solid melodic phrase.
You’ll start with a long 5 draw—held across the bar line. Count it like this:
1 2 3 4… 1… — then follow up with four eighth notes: 2 draw, 2 draw, 4 draw, 5 blow.
You’ll leave a quick rest on beat 4—and finish with one last 2 draw on the offbeat.
This lick teaches breath control and articulation—especially with those repeated 2 draws. Remember to articulate them—don’t take a new breath for each one.
Lick 1
Lick 2: A Twist Over the IV Chord
Lick two shows up when we hit the IV chord in bar 5—and it’s almost exactly the same as lick one.
The only difference? That first long note is a 6 blow instead of a 5 draw. That slight change gives it a fresh feel over the chord change.
Same timing, same rhythm—just a little colour shift. It’s a great example of how small changes can keep your playing from sounding repetitive.
Lick 2
Lick 3: Into the V Chord with Smooth Bends
Now we’re getting into the good stuff—bend territory.
Lick three happens over the 5 chord in bar 9. It starts on beat 2 with two 1 draws, then flows into a 3 draw whole step bend, followed by a half step bend. Those are quarter notes—so let them breathe.
Then in the next bar, you’ll repeat the half step bend, drop back to the whole step, and resolve to a clean 2 draw. After that—2 blow, then 2 draw again, and finally a 3 draw whole step bend to land.
Smooth bending is the name of the game here. Don’t overdo it—just keep the movement relaxed and melodic.
Lick 3
Lick 4: Variation Over the V Again
This lick is basically a variation on lick three—but instead of ending on a 3 draw bend, we finish with a 2 blow.
It’s subtle—but it keeps things moving without getting too heavy. Again—think of this tune as a melodic blues. Less grit—more groove.
Lick 4
Lick 5: Bringing It All Together
The final lick pulls in elements from everything we’ve played so far.
We’re back to the 1 draw pickup on beat 2, then bend through beats 3 and 4—just like earlier. But this time, we land on a long 2 draw that lasts for four and a half beats.
Then we throw in the tail from lick one—2 draw, 2 draw, 4 draw, 5 blow—to fill the gap before the band kicks back in.
This lick closes the loop—both rhythmically and melodically.
Lick 5
Playing the Full Tune
Now that you’ve got all five licks under your fingers—it’s time to put them together and play through the full tune.
Start on the 5 draw from lick one—right off the beat. Let it ring out—then roll into the sequence. You’ll follow the 16-bar progression using the licks we just covered.
Remember—take your time. Let each phrase breathe. This isn’t about speed—it’s about feel.
Full Tune
Backing Track
Practice Tools and Tips
To make things easier, I’ve put together a full tab sheet for Watermelon Man, plus audio clips of me playing each lick, and the same backing track I used in the video. Just click the link in the description to download everything.
A few quick tips:
Take your time with the bends—don’t force them.
Count out loud when learning the timing.
Loop each lick until it feels effortless—then move on.
Outro: Want to Start Improvising?
If you’re enjoying this and thinking “I’d love to be able to make up stuff like this”—then you might want to check out my Introduction to Improvisation Course inside the Tomlin Harmonica School. It’s a guided way to start jamming without feeling lost—perfect if you’ve ever felt stuck trying to solo over a 12 bar blues.
And if this lesson helped—go ahead and give it a thumbs up. And don’t forget to subscribe. I post a new harmonica lesson every single Wednesday—and I wouldn’t want you to miss out on the next one.
Thanks for checking out the lesson—and happy harping!
